Garner razing to displace residents next month to new halls
Current roommates unhappy with housing's policies, given three days to choose a new room
By: Audrey Spencer
Issue date: 11/23/09 Section: News
Some residents of Garner are having problems with the situation caused by plans to tear down the residence hall at the end of the semester.
One freshman resident said she did not feel she had been fully informed of planned changes in housing before the semester started.
"It's very frustrating not knowing (where I'm going to live)," she said. "We have talked to many CAs and people at the front desks of several residence halls, including the one we are moving to."
One of the girl's roommates had similar misgivings.
"If we ask, they say they don't know or don't want to tell us," she said. "What upsets me is the fact that we are unaware of what is going on."
Garner was once a traditional, suite-style dorm set up much like Steen Hall, but in more recent years it has been set up as Garner Apartments. Recently, it was converted back into a typical dorm setting-the kitchen units were disconnected or turned off, and two extra beds were moved into what had been the living area.
Jenny Waters, assistant director of residence life, said Garner was not advertised to prospective residents as apartments this semester but as a regular dorm setting.
"Garner has not been filled to capacity in the last few years, so they went to apartment setup," she said. "We reverted back to its original structure this semester."
The two new roommates moved into the former living area, however, they do not have the shelves or desks that residents in the original bedroom have.
"I was not given an adjustable bed until a month into the semester, which only made living here that much more cramped," the freshman said. "I can turn on the garbage disposable without even moving from my bed."
According to Waters, this year, 300 of Garner's 398 residents are first-year students.
"Garner is mostly freshmen this semester, because there was no space anywhere else," she said. "It worked out well because that area is where most freshmen live anyway. It's good for their comfort and for meeting other students."
One freshman resident said she did not feel she had been fully informed of planned changes in housing before the semester started.
"It's very frustrating not knowing (where I'm going to live)," she said. "We have talked to many CAs and people at the front desks of several residence halls, including the one we are moving to."
One of the girl's roommates had similar misgivings.
"If we ask, they say they don't know or don't want to tell us," she said. "What upsets me is the fact that we are unaware of what is going on."
Garner was once a traditional, suite-style dorm set up much like Steen Hall, but in more recent years it has been set up as Garner Apartments. Recently, it was converted back into a typical dorm setting-the kitchen units were disconnected or turned off, and two extra beds were moved into what had been the living area.
Jenny Waters, assistant director of residence life, said Garner was not advertised to prospective residents as apartments this semester but as a regular dorm setting.
"Garner has not been filled to capacity in the last few years, so they went to apartment setup," she said. "We reverted back to its original structure this semester."
The two new roommates moved into the former living area, however, they do not have the shelves or desks that residents in the original bedroom have.
"I was not given an adjustable bed until a month into the semester, which only made living here that much more cramped," the freshman said. "I can turn on the garbage disposable without even moving from my bed."
According to Waters, this year, 300 of Garner's 398 residents are first-year students.
"Garner is mostly freshmen this semester, because there was no space anywhere else," she said. "It worked out well because that area is where most freshmen live anyway. It's good for their comfort and for meeting other students."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
chris brown
posted 11/24/09 @ 2:17 AM CST
im a father of a S.F.A student. as a parent i do think that much more effert was suppose to be done by school counselors to the young students.it is true that the students knew about what is going to happen ,but being so young more education as far as planing ahead would of help us all. (Continued…)
sfas
tedd bellflower
posted 11/24/09 @ 2:42 AM CST
MY DAUGHTER LIVED IN GARNER,AMD I THINK THAT MORE EDUCATION FROM S.F.A COUNSELORS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE DONE AS FAR AS PLANING AHEAD .ITS TRUE THAT WE ALL KNEW ABOUT IT BUT NOT ENOUGHT WAS DONE TO REALY PASS THE MESSAGE TO WE ALL. (Continued…)
jerry blair
posted 11/25/09 @ 9:26 PM CST
i really hope that when the new building will be ready it will be worth it.i used to live in garner, and with all the respect even before it was crowded it wasnt the best place to live. (Continued…)
adam
ANNA
posted 11/25/09 @ 9:42 PM CST
I USED TO LIVE FEW YEARS AGO IN GARNER BEFORE IT GOT OVER CROWDED.I REALLY HOPE WHEN THE NEW BUILDING WILL BE READY IT WILL BE WORTH IT ,BECAUSE ALSO AT THE PAST WITH THE FOOD PROGRAM ETC,I WAS PAYING AS IF I WAS RENTING A HOUSE YET THE BUILDING WASNT IN A GREAT CONDITION . (Continued…)
David
posted 12/01/09 @ 10:05 PM CST
Am I the only one rather amused by the fact that all the other comments on this article are obviously posted by people that work for an apartment complex?
Observant
posted 12/02/09 @ 5:25 PM CST
It seems the Californian apartment complex has found a new way to advertise.
Megan
posted 12/08/09 @ 1:12 AM CST
hmmm advertising anyone?
Obviously the commentors below are not very bright in regards to making their comments look as though they were written by various people. (Continued…)
bob smith
posted 12/16/09 @ 7:12 PM CST
me thinks the californian apartments (formerly pecan park apartments) are plugging away.
a student
posted 12/31/09 @ 12:40 AM CST
i loved pecan park apartments, which now are the californian, they have a great location for me to smoke pot. its right next to the park, ive never had problems smoking pot there
LadyJunior
posted 3/25/10 @ 9:26 AM CST
I think that it sucks that SFA id admitting way more students than it can house. It doesn't make any sense. I believe that the parents on here are spam for the californian, but if I was a parent I would be pist. (Continued…)
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